Growing up in Hawaii, my memories of Christmas include getting our tree at a parking lot vendor (we didn't have the option of going to a Christmas Tree Farm to choose and cut our own tree) and hanging our stockings on a fake cardboard fireplace (we never lived in a home with a fireplace). We also never had a "White Christmas" except the year that we took a family vacation to Lake Tahoe during Christmas vacation and our Christmas tree seemed to be filled with mismatched decorations that we made as kids.

I've always wanted a color-coordinated tree that looked like it came off of the showroom floor...one that could have come straight out of a Christmas card. Years ago, we finally got one of those trees that have the Christmas lights built-in (makes it so much easier to decorate!) and I selected a very traditional Christmas decoration theme, filled with red, silver and crystal ornaments, red velvet bows and candy canes. There are a few ornaments that don't adhere to the color scheme, but I treasure hanging them because of their sentimental value. I absolutely love our tree and I do enjoy putting it up every year, whether it's just for us to admire or if we happen to have family over for Christmas.